Cheryl Kagan

Kagan was born in Washington, D.C. in 1961 and grew up in suburban Montgomery County, Maryland, attending Winston Churchill High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Vassar College in 1983 and later attended the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park. Following her studies, she went on to work in the political field, both in government and in the non-profit sector. Among the organizations she worked for are the National Women's Political Caucus, Independent Action, Handgun Control, Inc., and, after leaving the Maryland House of Delegates in 2003, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. During her time in the Maryland House of Delegates, she worked part-time as a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools.[1] Kagan has also worked in a volunteer capacity on a number of political campaigns, for Democratic Party organizations, and for a variety of community organizations.[1]

In 1994, Kagan was elected to a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 17, which includes Rockville, Garrett Park and Gaithersburg in central Montgomery County. During her first term, she served on the Commerce and Government Matters Committee, switching to the Appropriations Committee following her re-election in 1998.[1] Among the issues she worked on while in the legislature were homeowners' rights, campaign finance reform, women's issues, consumer protection, and education. She sponsored legislation requiring insurance companies to cover in vitro fertilization and guaranteeing emergency medical care for rape victims.[2]

In June, 2009, Kagan kicked off a campaign for Maryland Senate, running in the same legislative district in which she had previously served in the House of Delegates.[3] She was challenging incumbent Senator Jennie M. Forehand in a race that Kagan ultimately lost by a small margin. The race received significant attention in local media and political blogs, not least for the extensive use of negative campaigning from both sides. One of the factors in the race was the wide age gap between the two candidates: Forehand was 74 as of February 2010, while Kagan was 48. Forehand has sought to portray her long service in the legislature as an asset, and was supported by Maryland's powerful Senate President, Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.[4] Despite his support, Forehand was "outraised" (in campaign contributions) approximately three to one by Kagan during 2008 and 2009, something which was noted in local political blogs as being unusual for an incumbent.[5]

Kagan campaigning in 2014

In 2014, with the support of retiring Sen. Forehand, Kagan handily Luiz R. S. Simmons (her successor in the House) in the June 24 primary, then went on to defeat Republican Steve Zellers in the November general election. She was sworn in as Senator for the 17th district for the January 2015 legislative session.[6]

In 2015, Senator Kagan was assigned to the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs (EHEA) and Joint Audit Committees.[7]

Kagan was the primary sponsor of six pieces of legislation (all six of which passed the Senate and five of which won final passage by the General Assembly). She secured funding for key Rockville and Gaithersburg projects; passed legislation to enhance organ donations; and mandated “fertility parity” in insurance coverage for married lesbian couples.[8]

The Maryland Municipal League named her a “Superstar” for her work on securing highway revenue funds and other issues.[9]

Senator Cheryl Kagan was the primary sponsor of 11 pieces of legislation during the 2016 legislative session. Her successes include passing “Language Access” to ensure that all State agency websites are multi-lingual; clarifying the voter registration process with her “Informed Voter” bill; and closing a loophole infertility treatment coverage for married couples.[10] She sponsored legislation to address issues including driving under the influence of drugs and updating our 9-1-1 emergency systems.[11] While not passed during the 2016 session, Senator Kagan continues to work on these bills, and is optimistic of their success in the near future.[12]

Senator Kagan was appointed to serve as the Senator on The Maryland Public-Private Partnership (P3) Marketing Corporation Board, which works to attract businesses, establish a branding strategy for the State, increase jobs, and expand the State’s economy.[13] She was also appointed to the Commission on the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.[14] Kagan is a trustee at Hospice Caring, Inc.,[15] and a member of the One Maryland Blue Ribbon Commission on Procurement; the Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space & Agricultural Land Preservation; and Women Legislators of Maryland.[16] Additionally, in 2016 she was named a “Superstar” by the Maryland Municipal League for the second year in a row.[17] For her work on environmental issues, Senator Kagan has a perfect, lifetime score of 100 from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.[18]

During the 2017 legislative session, Kagan was the primary sponsor of 21 pieces of legislation. Most significantly, she passed a bill to create the Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan (NIMBL) fund to help nonprofits overcome short-term cash-flow issues as they wait on incoming government grants.[19] She continued her work on Next Generation 9-1-1, securing passage of an omnibus bill in the Senate before it failed to receive a vote in the House of Delegates in the final hours of session.[20] Additional successes included: giving cities a proven tool to combat fraud by contractors; simplifying the process to return to a former name after divorce; requiring that the State Board of Elections make audio recordings of their meetings available online; and standardizing the use of the term ‘nonprofit’ in the Maryland Code.

Kagan was appointed to serve as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, which oversees the financial health of state and local public accounts. She was also appointed to the Joint Committee on Project Open Space.

The Maryland Municipal League named Kagan a “Municipal Superstar” for the third year in a row in 2017. She was included on The Daily Record’s “Top 100 Women in Maryland” list, also for the third time, earning her a place in their “Circle of Excellence.”

During the 2018 legislative session, Kagan was the primary sponsor of 24 pieces of legislation. Five became law, including bills to: (1) expand translation services for all State web sites; (2) establish a commission to help plan and enable the transition to Next Generation 911; (3) limit Public Information Act access to email addresses for those who sign up for government alerts; (4) establish a floor for repayment of overhead costs to non-profits that have State grants or contracts; and, (5) empower counties to provide a tax credit to 911 Call-Takers.[21] Her Freedom to Serve legislation, which would have allowed honorably discharged veterans who were Legal Permanent Residents apply to be police officers passed the House of Delegates, but did not get a vote in the State Senate.[22] Other issues she worked on included a ban on single use expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam or EPS foam) food containers, planning for Next Generation 911 through updating Public Information Act standards and closing a funding loophole, and banning grants to private schools that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation.

The session was interrupted when Senator Kagan became the first Maryland State Legislator to come forward with allegations of inappropriate touching, joining the wave of #MeToo incidents in 2018.[23] When a former Delegate and current lobbyist touched her butt at a karaoke night in Annapolis, she decided to come forward and made a public statement. After a round of denials, video of the incident was released by the bar that hosted the event. During the session, legislation to revamp the Maryland General Assembly Discrimination and Harassment rules, cosponsored by Sen. Kagan, became law.[24]

Sen. Kagan was again named a "Municipal Superstar" by the Maryland Municipal League, while the Center for Nonprofit Advancement gave her The Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award to her. The NG9-1-1 Institute recognized her with their prestigious "National Leader" award for her work on Next Generation 911.

During the 2019 legislative session, Kagan was the primary sponsor of 19 pieces of legislation.[25] As chair of the Maryland NG911 Commission, which issued a 65-page report with 23 unanimous recommendations,[26] she sponsored and passed three significant, new laws to improve Maryland's 9-1-1 system:

• Saving Lives by Updating Our 9-1-1 Systems (“Carl Henn’s Law”): This bill addressed technology, cybersecurity, staffing, oversight, and more.  It also modified our funding structure, which was providing an average of just 37.5% of the costs of our emergency centers. By adjusting the 9-1-1 fee, we will improve service– and save lives.
• Protecting Crime Victims: Currently, 9-1-1 audio calls are available through a Maryland Public Information Act request. With NG911 allowing us to send texts, photos, and videos, SB5 will help protect the privacy of victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse by giving them a voice in shielding these records.[27]
• Supporting our “First, First Responders”: Our 9-1-1 Specialists, or calltakers, help us in our worst moments. Unlike a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic, 9-1-1 Specialists are largely invisible and underappreciated. This new law reclassifies the position (from clerical to professional) and recommends appropriate compensation and benefits as an integral part of the Emergency Response team.[28]

After three years of dedication, Senator Kagan was successful in passing the nation’s first statewide ban on harmful polystyrene (“Styrofoam”) food and beverage containers.[29] Her concern for the environment and sustainability has led the Maryland League of Conservation Voters to name her a “Green Champion” and will be presented with the Legislator of the Year Award (along with Del. Lierman) in October.

She also sponsored and passed additional key initiatives during the 2019 legislative session. After a State audit revealed that the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) had been investing taxpayer dollars in tech start-ups outside the State, she worked with then-Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne Jones to strengthen their legislation to guarantee that their focus return to creating Maryland jobs.[30] Senator Kagan partnered with Police Chief Tom Manger to pass her “Freedom to Serve” legislation, which will diversify our police departments by allowing Legal Permanent Residents who have been honorably discharged from the military with the opportunity to become police officers.